I forced a laugh. "Isn't this what the game is about? Why are you taking it so seriously?"

"Marvin!"

For the eighteenth time, Serina screamed at me for his sake.

"You've gone too far! Apologize to Beckett right now!"

I was the one insulted, yet somehow, I was always the one in the wrong.

Suddenly, it all felt meaningless.

I grabbed my jacket and stood to leave.

Her hand shot out, gripping my wrist, her face dark with anger.

"Today is our anniversary. My friends are all here. Must you embarrass me like this?"

That word again. Friends. Best friend!

I shook off her grip.

Slap!

My palm cracked across her cheek. Everyone froze in shock.

The air turned to stone.

Beckett forced a laugh, looping an arm around Serina's shoulders and clamping his hand over her mouth.

"Alright, enough. Don't say anything."

His smile softened, his voice gentle. "Marvin, Serina and I are just best friends. We grew up together, running around naked. Even if I stripped bare in front of her now, she wouldn't even flinch."

Then he shoved her toward me. "Go on, apologize and leave with your husband. If you stay any longer, he'll start suspecting every woman in this room of sleeping with you."

He exchanged sly glances with the others, hiding their smirks behind their hands.

Under his urging, Serina's voice came out muffled, almost strangled.

"...Sorry."

My chest clenched hard.

If only she hadn't apologized, maybe—just maybe—there'd still be hope.

But she did.

Without a word, I turned and strode out of the room.

In the end, Serina still chased after me.

Inside the car, Serina—who usually barely said two words to me—wouldn't stop talking.

"Why do you always pick fights with Beckett? What exactly did he ever do to you?"

"I'm married, not sold to you. Don't I have the right to normal social interactions?"

"If Beckett and I really had something going on, our kid would already be old enough to run errands by now. Do you really think you'd still get the chance to argue with me about it?"

That last string in my chest finally snapped.

"Yes. You're right—it's none of my business!" I roared, unable to hold it any longer. "But damn it, I've had enough!"

The emotions I'd been suppressing for too long exploded all at once.

I turned my face toward the window, head tilted back, trying to hold back the tears.